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Farmer Innovation Fair in Bolivia

The National Meeting of Farmer Innovators was held on 4 December 2015 in Cochabamba, Bolivia. A total of 45 innovations were selected for exhibit. The fair was attended by 51 innovators and included 38 stands from six departments: Santa Cruz, La Paz, Oruro, Potosi, Cochabamba and Chuquisaca.

The event began at 10:30 h with a Forum. Elizabeth Vargas, representing Prolinnova–Bolivia, presented Prolinnova, its approach, Participatory Innovation Development (PID) and some innovative experiences. Jeff Bentley, an anthropologist with experience in several countries, spoke about the need for dialogue between scientists and farmers to find common ground between them, and provided many examples of innovations where farmers end up teaching to technicians, rather than learning from them. Representatives of farmer innovators (Felix Yana from FUNAPA and Miguel Ortega of JachaPakajaqiSuyu) from two farmer organisations in La Paz also took the floor. They spoke of the importance of local innovation in agricultural production: its sustainability over time; enhancing resistance to climate change, pests and diseases; providing sufficient and safe food; and being conducive to living well. They said that innovations do not occur without local experimentation, from new experiences but also validating the knowledge and experience from outside. The last speaker was Eddy Barreta Pinto, National Management Specialist of the National System of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF), who spoke on the role of INIAF in generating knowledge and innovation; agricultural problems they face, especially related to low levels of productivity and the importance of innovation; and how Bolivian law strengthens that process.

After the Forum, the fair and exhibition of innovations were formally opened. There were different experiences presented; at the end of the afternoon, both evaluation committees composed of researchers, NGO staff and farmers, recognised 14 innovations (by 9 men and 7 women):

Julian Prado – handmade stone mill with its own hopper, Cochabamba

VitalianaZurita – soaps and shampoos based on local plants, Cochabamba

Maribel Villarroel – natural dyes for dyeing wool, Cochabamba.

Maria Elena Flores Gutierrez and Damiana – production of vegetables in suburban neighborhoods of Cochabamba

The fair was visited by farmers, technical institutions, academics and university students. The Governor of Cochabamba, the president and CEO of World Neighbors (WN) Kate Schecter and WN Regional Director Lionel Vigil also attended.

This event took place thanks to funding and support from the McKnight Foundation.

The description of the event can be found here and the registration form here.

The fair in Cochabamba and the exhibitions of the farmer innovators were documented through videos (click the links to watch them):